A First-Timer's Guide to Las Vegas

I am so excited to share my Las Vegas recap with you! Our primary reason for visiting the city was to witness two dear friends get married!. Little did we know that our Las Vegas vacation would be filled with unforgettable experiences, delectable dining, and the mesmerizing allure of the famed Strip and Fremont Street!

We stayed at the Flamingo Hotel, which is nestled in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip! The hotel offers a blend of modern amenities and retro glamour, with a tropical vibe. Parts of the hotel have been recently updated. The Hotel is known for its 4-acre Wildlife Habitat, where you’ll find live Chilean flamingos, unique bird species and exotic fish! We did enjoy our room, and the view of the Ferris wheel, plus the sphere was mesmerizing at night! One frustration I did have with the hotel, was the lack complimentary coffee packets for the hotel room. Unfortunately, you have to hold VIP status, a detail that caught us by surprise during our stay, in order to have complimentary coffee refills. Pro tip: walk over to the nearby CVS store to purchase essentials like water, snacks, creamer and cold brew You’ll save money this way, rather than spending $10 on a Starbucks latte each morning, and $6 on a bottle of water. If you're feeling adventurous, take a few steps over to the LINQ Promenade and take a ride on the High Roller Observation Wheel or take a trip down the FlyLINQ zip line! 

My biggest suggestion for Las Vegas, from our trip, would be to dine at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen. I ordered the salmon, which was delicious, but Blake opted for the 3 course fixed menu, which costs $100 per person. I’d definitely suggest doing the fixed menu because the Pan seared scallops, beef Wellington, and dessert were all absolutely delicious! If you’re an espresso martini fan, definitely don’t leave without getting one! I would say it was the best espresso martini that I’ve ever had! Another favorite placed we dined is In & Out Burger! Yes - a fast food joint, but we had never had it before, and ended up going multiple times because it was located right outside out hotel! Simple, but delicious, and super affordable!

I am a huge s’mores fan, so I knew we needed to visit Hershey’s Chocolate World, inside of New York New York! We went to try the s’mores bar, and it was delicious! A very messy, and rather large dessert for one person, but very worth it! We spent most of our days just exploring the strip! One of the most enchanting aspects of Las Vegas is the ability to stroll through various hotels, each with its unique charm. The lively atmosphere of the casinos, the lights, and the myriad of restaurants and shops create a unique experience for each hotel. 

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Hands down, my most favorite part of our Vegas trip was the night we spent on Fremont Street! The vibrant atmosphere and dazzling lights, live music and entertainment were mesmerizing! Walking along Fremont you’ll find bars, casinos, tattoo parlors, restaurants, and loads of entertainment!

A valuable tip - when in the casinos, enjoy free drinks while playing at the slot machines or gambling tables. No need to purchase drinks separately; the casinos offer complimentary beverages as part of the gaming experience.

If you’re wanting to shop while in Vegas, The Mirage is an awesome hotel to do that in! I found two of my favorite shops: Altar’d State and Aritzia! We also ventured over to the Fashion Show Mall, which was HUGE! The mall is 2 levels, with a partial 3rd floor, and 241 shops! You could shop for hours in this mall!​

Don't miss the opportunity to capture a photo at the iconic Las Vegas sign, a symbol of the city's vibrant energy!  We decided to go in around 10 AM in the morning to avoid waiting in a long line. When we got there, there were a few people there to take photos, but after about 30 minutes the line did get to be rather long, so definitely go early!  Afterward, head to the Pinball Hall of Fame, where you'll experience 349 pinball and arcade games! It's a cost-effective and enjoyable way to spend an hour or so. It’s free to go inside, you just pay for however many tokens you want to play the various games!

Vegas is known for its entertainment, so i'd suggest purchasing tickets to a show while you're there! You can find the full schedule of shows here!

Something that took me by surprise while in Vegas, the weather and the fashion! It was much colder than I expected it to be, so make sure if you're visiting during the winter months to pack warm clothes! I brought my favorite winter coat that I've owned for years! I figured that everyone on the strip would be dressed in sky high heels, glitz and glamour outfits, but that wasn't the case! People dress up, but it wasn't as glitzy as I thought it would be! I'll share a few of my favorite outfits below with links to the clothing items! ​

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Las Vegas, with its dynamic energy, diverse offerings, and vibrant atmosphere, is a destination worth exploring. While our visit might be a one-time affair, the memories will never be forgotten!  My husband and I aren’t really big city people, but Vegas is an experience that I am glad we got to enjoy! If we ever return, The Bellagio is most likely where we would stay after exploring all of the hotels, and we would have liked to rent a car to make the trip to the Grand Canyon to go hiking. We are traveling to numerous places around the Unites States this year, so follow along with us on Instagram and check back in on my blog for more travel recaps!